By Henry Kyambalesa

The functions of Zambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation should include managing and
administering a programme designed to confer rare and special “Zambian Residency” status upon a selected number of
distinguished foreigners.

A provisional list of such foreign nationals and their families should include the following: Mr. Barrack Obama, the late Mr. Kofi Annan, U2’s Bono (Paul D. Hewson), the late Mr. James (Jimmy) Carter, Mr. Jimmy Cliff, Mr. William (Bill) Clinton, the late Mr.Mahatma Gandhi, the late Dr. John Garang, the late Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev, Ms. Angelina Jolie, Mr. Lionel Richie, the late Senator Edward Kennedy, the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the late Mother Teresa, the late Mr. Samora Machel, the late Mr. Nelson Mandela, Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, the late Mr. Joshua Nkomo,the late Bishop Desmond Tutu, Ms. Oprah Winfrey, the late Mrs.Anita Roddick, the late Mr. Bob Marley, the late Senator John
McCain, Mr. Joseph (Joe) Biden, Ms. Kamala Harris, Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.N. Secretary General Mr. António Guterres,and Ms. Clare Short.

We should grant special and rare privileges (to be suggested by members of the Cabinet) to foreign nationals who would be
adjudged to have made exemplary contributions to the promotion—in their own countries and/or beyond—of peace,
freedom, justice, democracy, prosperity, philanthropy / altruism,poverty reduction, and other noble causes and endeavours.

Among other rare and special privileges, the recipients and/or families of the special Zambian residency would be free to visit Zambia whenever they feel like and enjoy the beauty, warmth,friendliness, and rich cultures and traditions of our beloved country and its people. Our beloved country would, of course, do well to continue to perform the following functions through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:

(a) Foreign policy: Administration of a foreign policy that places a great deal of emphasis on the need for the Zambian government to work hand in hand with other peace-loving nations worldwide in creating a more democratic, more peaceful, and more affluent global community. And, accordingly, pursuit of amicable relations with all the democratic and peace-loving countries which have already proved to be Zambia’s reliable and passionate friends.

(b) Zambia’s image abroad: A deliberate effort to educate other countries about our beautiful country and its lovely and peace-loving people. If we fail in this endeavour, other countries will not readily engage in political, cultural and economic relations with us.(c) Foreign-country profiles: Maintenance of up-to-date profiles of foreign countries in order to continually fine-tune Zambia’s relations with the rest of the world, and to furnish Zambian travellers with useful information about foreign countries to enhance their safety and/or business pursuits abroad.

(d) Consular affairs and services: Redressing travellers’ frustrations caused by inadequacies in the processing of passports and visas by streamlining bureaucratic procedures and occasionally re-training consular personnel.

(e) Zambian travellers: Requiring each and every Zambian traveller to foreign countries to consider themselves as dependable “ambassadors” of our Motherland, and to conduct themselves in a civilized and lawful manner.Contact addresses for recipients and/or their families could be obtained through foreign missions based in Zambia and Washington, DC, and/or any other sources. Preferably, and if possible, the official correspondence conferring the “Honorary
Zambian Residency” should be delivered directly to the recipients or their families.

SOMETIME back, I published an article as per captioned. This was of course, prompted by a dear colleague of mine who had found himself hospitalized for a prolonged illness. One night, he called me from his hospital bed pleading for urgent assistance.
“Am dying Bill,” his voice faltered on the other end of the line. “Any help from you would be highly appreciated ….”

Egged on by my wife, I reluctantly tore myself aware from the warmth of her embrace and found my way to the hospital. The gentleman whom I had known as a jovial and chubby fella was a sorry sight of himself. He extended his frail hand to exchange a handshake. His face was ashen…….he was having difficulties breathing.
“Why didn’t you inform me earlier on?” I was shocked.
As he tried to open his mouth to speak, he splattered and coughed unceasingly. In the meantime, his chest was heaving in and out, spasmodically. Suddenly, he was sound asleep.

There was only one other person by the bed side, a lady in her 30s. She explained that he rented a room from her in her modest house in one of the sprawling townships in the city. When she noticed that he hadn’t been seen out of his room for two days, she decided to investigate only to find him on the floor, gasping for air.
“We’ve been here for two weeks now, I’ve tried contacting his relatives including his uncle at Bank of Zambia…” she explained, painstakingly. It was clear she hadn’t had decent sleep for days. “They keep promising they’ll get back to me, but to no avail. I’ve now run out of money to buy him fruits or even drugs that aren’t readily available in the pharmacy.”

That’s how myself and this other friend of ours picked up all the medical expenses. As they say, God’s plans aren’t ours. One quiet evening, Abishai transitioned to the land of the dead. We immediately informed his relatives in Lusaka but they didn’t show up until the night before the burial.

We were keeping vigil around a bonfire, when we were alerted to what sounded like big SUVs outside the gate. After the opening and slamming of doors, we heard squeaking sounds of chickens, and the newly arrived urging each other to lift this and that!
However, before they could come into the yard, we sprang to our feet and closed the gate.

“Take your chickens back to Lusaka!” we ordered them. “Where were you when Abi needed you the most? He needed all this food when he was indisposed! You’ve even come with an expensive casket, sorry we don’t need it; we burry our friend in a simple coffin.”
A famous musical artist has recently died in a tragic mishap in the small town of Kapiri Mposhi. From the photos circulating on social media, he was yet to complete his house, no doubt he was struggling. As is always the norm when such eventualities occur, burial space worth K100, 000 was secured, a K50,000 casket was hastily bought and of course, there was enough for everyone to eat during the funeral.

While all the drama was unfolding regarding Wesley Chibambo’s (Dandy Crazy) funeral, Saviour Chishimba weighed in with interesting insights on mitzvah. All of us can learn from it in one way or another. According to Meta, mitzvah is any act of kindness, charity, or good deed that brings joy, helps others, or honours God.

“Flowers are not permitted because the dead are no longer alive to appreciate their beauty. Thus, wreaths are a mockery to the departed. Spending US$2,000 on a casket is not a mitzvah. It’s an insult and it has no benefit to the dead. From the Jewish perspective, such an amount would better be spent on a cause to perpetuate the legacy of the dead like support to children left behind or any charitable entity,” Chishimba elaborates in a write up.

Would you rather your relatives or friends continue watching you wallowing in abject poverty and only to come and demonstrate their grand generosity during your funeral? This is the worst hypocrisy! I’d rather be buried in a simple coffin like the Jews….and please, no roses and orchids on my grave as I won’t be there to appreciate them. After all, once you’ve interred my corpse 6 feet under, termites and maggots would’ve begun competing for a chunk of me in earnest.

Prince Bill M Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst

Mumbi Phiri Charged with Aggravated Robbery: A Puppet Show in Zambia’s Justice System

The arrest of Mumbi Phiri, the former Deputy Secretary-General of the Patriotic Front (PF), on charges of aggravated robbery has reignited heated debates about the independence of Zambia’s judiciary and police. Public reactions to her predicament have ranged from outrage to skepticism, with many expressing views on the apparent erosion of justice in favor of political expediency.

In comments from a previous story on this issue, citizens called out what they described as a “selective justice system.” One respondent labeled the charges against Phiri as “an orchestrated political takedown,” while another lamented that “the police are no longer serving the public but those in power.” Others questioned the double standards, with one reader pointing out: “When will we see arrests for corruption cases involving those in the ruling party?” These sentiments underscore a growing public discontent over what is seen as the judiciary’s failure to apply the law equitably.

Phiri’s arrest followed a confrontation during the Kawambwa by-election, where she clashed with Green Economy Minister Mike Mposha amid allegations of electoral malpractice. She was accused of assaulting the minister and robbing him of money and phones. The aggravated robbery charge, a non-bailable offense, has raised eyebrows, with many viewing it as a calculated move to keep her incarcerated and silence her opposition voice.

The decision to relocate Phiri’s case from Lusaka to Kawambwa, a region considered a stronghold of the ruling UPND, has added fuel to the fire. Critics argue that this move ensures she faces a biased environment, further cementing the view that the police and judiciary have become puppets dancing to political tunes.

This case has become a flashpoint for larger concerns about the impartiality of Zambia’s justice system. The disparity in how cases are handled is glaring: opposition figures like Phiri face swift and harsh legal consequences, while ruling party members accused of wrongdoing appear to enjoy impunity. Such double standards not only erode trust in law enforcement but also diminish public confidence in the judiciary’s role as a neutral arbiter of justice.

As public comments suggest, this is not just about Mumbi Phiri; it is about the survival of Zambia’s democracy. Citizens are asking whether the judiciary and police can disentangle themselves from political strings or whether they will continue to operate as instruments of suppression. The Mumbi Phiri case has become a litmus test for Zambia’s justice system, leaving the nation grappling with the unsettling question: Is justice still blind, or has it been blinded by politics?

MORGAN MAGAWA.